Pato: I am still first choice for penalties

AC Milan's Alexandre Pato has insisted he has no problems with taking penalties and is keen to stay as the club's primary penalty taker despite his miss against Fiorentina.

The Brazil striker failed to convert a crucial penalty in Milan's 3-1 defeat against the Viola in Serie A last weekend.

Pato told reporters: "I am very sad about the penalty miss and the defeat in general. Missing a penalty is never nice.

"However, I am the designated penalty taker. I was on the pitch. Whenever I am playing, I take the penalties and I have no problem taking penalties. Unfortunately I missed."

The striker has urged supporters to be patient as he continues his return from injury: "I have only just made my way back after a long time out with injury. I have been on the sidelines for a long time, but I cannot say that I am really back. I am still on the road to full fitness.

"I am here at the club and I always have been working hard to try and get back into good shape. But I will only get back to being 100 per cent when things start to go well."